Electric sparking device.



W. H. R. MILDEBRATH. ELEGTRIG SPARKING DEVICE.

Patented' Oct. 2'?? 1908.

APPLIOATION FILED JAN. 20, 1906.

. @Humm A WHRMZ'ZdeZm/ \'ll.lill". Il. lt. MILDBRATH, vOF JACIQSONYILU, FlitI-tllla.

ELECTRIC SPARKING DEVICE.

Speceationof Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 27, 1908.

Appliction filed Jgnuary 20, 1906.. 'Serial No. 297,032.

To all whom it may concern:

'Be vit. known that I, Tinian H R. MILon- Baarn, a. citizen ot' the United States,`res'id ing at Jacksonville-in thecounty of Duval and State of Florida, have invented new and useful Improvements in Electric Sparking Devices,ot which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to electric sparking' Ade\ "ices designedV especially 't'or use in connection with explosive engines. and hasl foi" its objects to provide a comparatively s iniserving to hold the i'od in position `.with its ple, inexpensive ,device ot` this character combiningr t-lieadvantages ot the inake-andbr ak and jump spark plugs, one wherein e the spark will be positively produced at appropriate intervals, and one in which the movable sparking member will be eftectually operated.

Vith these and other objects' in view, the' i :invention comprises the novel' 'features ot" construction-and con'ibination ot parts more fully hereinafter described.

Htll@ accompanying drawing the figure is a central vertical section of the sparkplug'.

.Beferringto the drawings, l designates the sparking plug' comprisingl in its organization a n'ietal casing' Q in which is housed an electro-magnet 3, the coil lLt ot' which is electrically connected as at with binding' posts G and 6 e'vtendedthrough the side Walls of the easing within lsuitable, insulation 7, there being provided on the'casing 1 a hollow extension 8 forming a chamber t) through the endwall of which there is extendeda bindingpost 10 surrounded by insulation 11. Attached to the posts 6 and 6 are wires-12 and 12 which, together with a wire 13 attached to thepost- 10, connects the plug in an electric circuit 14.

Extended through a central bore in the magnet co're' is a tubular insulating'- niem- -ber 1 5 containing atnbular'metal Contact ,pieceltn which Ain turn receives a movable 4contact .meinberor rod 17, which, together with the insulation 15 andcontact piece 1G extends through a .tubular externally threaded. neck 18 provided on the casing' l for attaching the latter to an engine cylinder andhaving at its outer end a metal piece or electrode 19 with which the a'djacentend of the rod 17 comesl in Contact when the rod is moved in one direction.

FiXednpon theV rod or electrode 17' for movement therewith and to be attracted by the core 3 is a metal disk or arm'at'i'ire QOand a Contact block l separated from the disk :lo by means olfan insulating member i2 and adaptedto normally lie in contact with a nieta-l contact piece kor washer 23, which, to- `f 'etlier with the block 2l, is' separated, from the casing` by means of alinino" 2l oll insulatinici` material, the parts being maintained in normal position by means ot a comi'iressible spring '22.3. applied around the rod 17 and'`4 bearing at one end upon the lining' tand at its other end against' a head 26 tixed upon the rod by means ol a nut 2T, said'spi'ing upper end in contact willi t-lie'bindiug post 1t) and with the armature- 20 ont of contact with the core Il and the block 2l in contact with the' washer Fixed in the casing' by means ot' screws 28 extendedthrough the 'insulating lining :24 is a contact member Zlelectrically connected as at 3() with the adiaccnt binding post 43 andhaving a movable contact portion 31 adapted to be pressed to active lposition by means ot a spring' 212. said movable portion 3l being nt'n'mally in contact with a portion of the insulating'piece Q lii'pi'actice when the spark pltt'g is operat- 'ingA ou a ,high tension :circuit whereby the sparks are produced by the current jumping' trom one electrode to the other. the secondary current ot' the ignition s vstein passes through the spark plug-by means otl a path consisting' oi the wire 13, binding.: post l0, rod of electrode 17. electrode 19 and 'air LQ'ap between them to the metal casing of the spark plug'which is `aronndjedron the engine cylinder in the usual manner. lt tor any reason the` induction coil or 4high tension system should be rendered inoperative itis merely necessary to'connect the spark plug in a low tension system'. ln this instance thecnrrent flows through, the wire-12, binding' post (5, winding 4 of the electro magnet, binding' post 6 andV Wire 12. The electro anagnet consequently attractstlie armature 30 so as to thereby bring the movable elet-- trode 17 into Contact with the fixed electrode 19 at which time the brush Bl engages the metal piece or washer 21 on the movable 'electrode so as to connect the latter in cii'- cuit. A .by-pass' or 'shunt is thus created whereby current flows .tr/ointhe binding post G througrh the wire 30, Contact member 29, part 31, blocker Washer Q11, electrodes 17 and 19, casing of the spark plug' and back to the source of currentby the frame ot the engine on which the spark plug casing is grounded. l 4. A spark plug comprising a casing, a l

This flow of current is but momentary as the circuit is opened by any suitable means, such as a timing device, usually employed in connection With explosive engines. By the opening of this circuit the electro magnet loses its attractionso that the armature moves Way under the expansion of the spring 25, thus separating the electrodes so that a spark Will be produced.v This operaltion is repeated at frequent intervals so as to generate the sparks for producing the explosions in the engine equipped With the spark plug.

From. the foregoing it is apparent that l produce a simple device admirably adapted for the attainment of the ends in view, it being understood. that inv attaining these ends minor changes in the details herein set forth may be resorted to Without departing from thespirit of the invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1. A spark plug comprising a stationary electrode, a rod mounted for longitudinal movement, one end constituting a movable electrode normally separated from the otherelectrode, a body of metal iXed on the rod and forming an armature, an electro-magnet surrounding the rod and operating on the armature to bring the electrodes into contact, a yielding element arranged to hold the electrodes separated, a binding post against which the rod is held by the said element and adapted to be connected with a high tension circuit, and means for connecting the electro magnet With a low tension circuit', said rod and binding post forming a path for high tension current when the electro magnet is out of service.

2. A `spark plug comprising a casing, a core therein, a magnet Winding around the core, a stationary electrode carried by the casing, a rod insulated from the casing and forming a movable electrode, an insulating lining fitted in the casing and disposed above the magnet, anl ai'inature secured to the,

said rod in coperative relation with the electro magnet, means operating -on the rod to hold the electrodes apart, a current conductor with Which the rod is normally in contact when the electrodes are separated, and means Within the casing for connecting the rod in circuit When the electro magnet is energized.

3. A spark plug comprising a grounded l casing, a fixed electrode thereon, a movable electrode mounted in the casing, means for normally connectingthe movable electrode in a high tension circuit, an electi'o magnet connected with the loW tension circuit and tact, and means for connecting the movable electrode into the lovv tension circuit when the electro magnet is energized.

core therein having a threaded portion exs tending out ot' the casing, a neck threaded on the core and eXteriorly threaded for atfrom the core and neck, meansfor connect-y ing the movable electrode normally in a high tension circuit, a magnet Winding on the core, means for connecting the Winding in a low tension circuit, an armature on the said rod for bringing the movable electrode into contact with the stationary electrode When the magnet is energized, andmeans for connecting the said rod in the 10W tension circuit When the said winding is energized.

5. A spark plug comprising a casing, a neck thereon for attaching the plug to an engine cylinder, a stationary electrode on the neck, a movable electrode in the Jform of a rod insulated from the neck and casing, an electro magnet Within the casing, an arina ture on the rod arranged in coperative .relation with the magnet, a cover for the casing having a tubular extension, a lining of insulation arranged in the casing above the elec* tro magnet, binding posts on the lining for connecting the electro magnet in a loW tension circuit, a spring-pressed element mounted on and insulated from the said casing and electrically connected with one of the binding posts, a contact on the said rod normally insulated from the element and adapted to contact therewith when the electro magnet is eiiergized, a spring housed in the tubular extension of the cover and connected with the rod tor holding the latter separated from the stationary electrode, and a binding post on the extension for connecting the rod in a high tension circuit and With which the rod is normally held in engagement by the spring.

l G. A. spark plug comprising relatively movable electrodes, means for normally holding the electrodes apart, a contact normally connected with one of the electrodes for supplying high tension current thereto, an electro magnet adapted to actuate the movable electrode to make and break a circuit, and means for connecting and disconnecting the electrodes and circuits by the actuation of the movable electrode. I

7. A spark plug comprising a pair of relatively movable electrodes, a binding post for connection with a high tension circuit, an electro magnet having an armature connected with the movable electrode, and adapted for connection with a circuitto supply loW tension current thereto, and relatively movable contacts for -connecting the electrode in the low tension circuit by the actuation of the armature.

adapted to be connected in a high tension circuit, means for holding the movable electrode in conducting relation with the binding post and separated from the fixed electrode, means for actuating the movable eleci -g trode to make and break Contact with the fixed electrode, and means dependent upon' the movement of the said electrode for supplying low tension current to the electrodes.

9. A Spark plug comprislng a casmg suit 1; hbly grounded, a fixed elect-rode thereon, a

movable electrode in the casing insulated therefrom, a binding post adapted to be con- 'nected in a high tension circuit, means for yieldingly holding the movable electrode in Contact With the binding post and separated from the fixed electrode, an elect-ro lmagnet; coil in the casing, an armature for the coil mounted on the movable electrode, binding posts for connecting the coil in a low tension circuit, a Contact on the movable electrode, and a Contact connected with one of the binding post-s in ldie 10W tension circuit and arranged to periodically engage and disengage the contaluon the electrode to supply 10W tension current to the latter.

In testimony whereof, I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

WILLIE H. R. MILDEBRATH. Witnesses: V

J. J. VANDERGRLFT, OSCAR IvANovroH.. 

